dieth of his own accord when it lacketh matter so great is the difference betweene the death of young men and old men Seneca A sword-player fearfull in all the fight smiteth home growes valiant or rather desperate whē he seeth no way but death so death is feareful beeing far off but lesse dreaded being at hand Seneca As Swans seeing what good is in death do end their liues with singing so ought all good and honest men to do Cicero lib. 1. Tusc quaest Vnripe apples are hardly pulled from the Tree but being ripe they fall of their owne accord so force doth take life from young men but maturity ripenes from old men Idem de senectute They that speake euill of the deade are like vnto dogges that bite at stones cast at them but doe not touch them that hurte them Aristoteles in Rhetoricis ait Platonem huius similitudinis authorem esse As Croesus with al his wealth so Aristotle with all his wit and al men with al their wisedome haue and shall perish and turne to dust As Aristippus searched how to prolong his life so Socrates sought howe hee might yeeld to death As life is the gift of God so death is the due of nature and as we receiue the one as a benefite so must we abide the other of necssity As the bud is blasted as soone as the blowen rose and as the wind shaketh off the blossome as well as the fruite so death neither spareth the golden lockes nor the hoarie heade As a Bee stinging a dead body takes no hurt but stinging a liue body oft times looseth both sting and life together so death so long as it stung mortal men only which were deade in sinne was neuer a whit the worse but when it stung Christ once who is life it selfe by and by it lost both sting and strength As the brasen serpent was so farre from hurting the Israelites that contrariwise it healed them so death is now so farre from hurting any true Israelite that on the other side if affliction as a fierce serpent sting vs or if any thing else hurte vs presently it is helped and redressed by death Those which will needes play the hobgoblins or the night walking spirits as we call them all the while they speake vnder a hollow vault or leape forth with an vgly vizard vpō their faces they are so terrible that he which thinkes himselfe no small man may perhaps be afrighted with thē But if some lustie fellow chance to step into one of these and cudgel him well fauouredly and pull the vizard from his face then euery boy laughes him to scorne so death was a terrible bulbegger and made euery man afraid of him a great while but Christ dying buckled with this bulbegger and coniured him as I may say out of his hollow vault when as the dead comming out of the graues were seene in Ierusalem and puld the vizard from his face when as he himselfe rising left the linnen cloathes which were the vizard of death behinde him Doctor Playfer As that asse called Cumanus Asinus ietting vp and downe in a Lions skin did for a time terrifie his maister but afterwardes being descried did benefit him very much so death stands now like a silly asse hauing his Lions skin pulde ouer his eares and is so far from terrifying any that it benefites all true Christians because by it they rest from their labours and if they be oppressed with troubles or cares whē they come to death they are discharged All the while Adam did eat any other fruite which God gaue him leaue to eate he was nourished by it but when hee had tasted of the forbidden tree he perished so death had free leaue to deuoure any other man Christ onely excepted but when it wente about to destroy Christ then it was destroyed it selfe Those barbarous people called Canibals which feed onely vpon raw flesh especially of men if they happen to eate a peece of rosted meate commonly they surfeit of it and die so the right Caniball the onely deuourer of all mankind death I meane tasting of Christes flesh and finding it not to be rawe such as it was vsed to eat but holsome and heauenly meat indeed presently tooke a surfet of it and within 3. daies died As when Iudas had receiued a soppe at Christs hand anon after his bowels gushed out so death being so sawcie as to snatch a sop as it were of Christs flesh and a litle bit of his bodie was by and by like Iudas choaked and strangled with it and faine to yeeld it vp again when Christ on Easter day reuiued Sharpe frosts bite forward springs Easterly winds blasteth towardly blossomes so cruel death spareth not those whom we our selues liuing cannot spare as it spared not king Edward the sixt nor sir Philip Sidney who could neuer haue liued too long As madnes and anger differ nothing but in continuance and length of time so neither doe death and sleepe The Deuill AS the Lion that killed the disobedient Prophet returning from Bethel did neither teare his deade body nor hurt his Asse after the same maner is the power of the Diuel being a roaring Lion restrained and kept within limits so that he can extend his furie no further then God giueth him leaue As they that would haue dogs come vnto thē allure thē with bread or flesh so the diuel allureth soules vnto him with pleasures and riches Clemens Alexand. lib. 2. strom As a fish snatching at the bait not seeing the hooke is taken so the Diuell hauing the power of death greedily carrying Iesus vnto death and not seeing the hooke of his diuinitie included in him was caught and ouerthrowne himselfe Idem in Symb. Apost As one night is sufficient to bring darknesse ouer the whole world so the Prince of darkenes is sufficient to disturbe al mortall creatures Macarius hom 5. As Endiue is like vnto Lettice yet the one is sweete the other bitter so the diuel somtimes sheweth himselfe like an Angell of light yet the one is glorious the other vgly and deformed Idem hom 7 As a man and a woman commits corporall fornication so the diuell and the soule commits spirituall fornication Idem hom 15. As Sericants wait for the arest of men indebted so diuels waite to arest sinfull soules Idem hom 43. As a strong stone wall resisteth a dart so faith resisteth the diuel Greg. Nazian oratione in sanctum Cyprianum As a dog stayeth still vnder the Table if hee finde any fallings but departeth if hee find none so the diuell doth continually gape vpon vs if hee get any blasphemous worde he stayeth still but if thou lettest no sins passe from thee hee will leaue thee Chrysost concione 3. de Lazaro As Pirats set vpon rich loaden ships but passe by them that be emptie so the diuell assaileth them that be stuffed with vertues but he lets wicked worldlings and mammonists liue in quiet Idem hom 4. de
this worlde ibidem As Ismael the sonne of Nathaniah did weepe with the friends of Godoliah whom hee had slaine so heretikes so do hypocrites weepe for that which they wish most harme vnto F. Ioannes a S. Geminiano libro 5. de animalibus terrestribus capite 72. A panther by the beauty of his skinne and sweete smell of his breath doth allure other beastes vnto him but by the fearefulnesse of his head he feareth them away whereupon he hideth his head till he hath laide hold on them that come to see him so heretikes and hypocrites outwardly pretending great sanctity and by the fame of their doctrine which they colour with deuotion and simplicity hiding the malicious heade of their corrupte intent they draw many simple and ignorant auditours vnto them and do destroy them with their poysonous doctrine ibidem As young Lyons doe teare and rent the wombe of their dammes in bringing them foorth so heretikes doe rende and teare in peeces the vnity of the church their mother who spiritually doeth bring them forth Idem libro 5. de animal terrest capite 108. When the time approacheth of the Vipers bringing foorth her young ones doe not stay the operation of nature but gnaw her sides in sunder and so come foorth with the destruction of their damme so heretikes being bredde in the wombe of the Church their mother not staying for nor sustaining her correction by rebellion doe depart from her and whilst they gnawe in sunder her vnity as much as lies in them they labour to bring her vnto destruction Ibidem Yong Panthers hating their dās do beat in peeces with their hooues the wombs of their dams because they resist their egresse and deliuerance wherupon a panther bringeth not forth but once so heretikes with their nailes that is with their malignāt doctrine do teare in peeces the vnitie of the church their mother because shee doeth resist their perfidy ibidem A Wolfe infecteth the wooll of that sheep he woorieth so that a garment made of it prooueth lousie as saith Isidore so an hereticke by his biting doth corrupt the simplicity of mans conuersation and maketh it to abounde with lice that is with corrupt workes ibidem Death AS he is to bee called a skilfull Phisitian that can so temper his medicine that it bringeth health which is the ende of his phisicke so is he to be termed truly wise who hath so learned to lead his life that a good death may follow As the hearbe colloquintida is most bitter so is the memory of death to a rich couetous man F. Ioannes a S. Geminiano lib. 3. de vegetabilib plant cap. 40. As Colloquintida doth stretch out her braches a far off so death doth stretch out himselfe so far that none can escape him ibid. As that Colloquintida is most poisonous and deadly which growes alone so is that death most feareful vpō which a pure consciēce true repētāce doth not attēd ibid. As that Colloquintida is good according to Macrus which is white so is that death which is religious ibidem As by a serpent the death of man came so by the death of man a serpent is ingendered that is of the marrowe of his backe bone as saith Hippocrates The beast Hyena hath the necke of a Viper the backe of an Elephant the greedines of a Wolfe the mane of a horse the voice of a man and is sometimes male and sometimes female so death is likened to a Viper for his swiftnesse to an Elephant for his force and violence to a Wolfe for his voracity to a horse for his vnbridlednesse to a man for his deceiptfulnesse and to male and female because it takes awaie both kindes As the ashes of a Scorpion drunk in wine is a remedy against the stinging of a Scorpion so the meditation of death is a remedy against sinne which is the cause of death Gemin lib. 5. de animal Terrest c. 80. As in sleepe there is no remembraunce of labours so the saintes by the sleepe of death do rest from their labors idem lib. 6. de homine Memb. eius cap. 45. As a man whilst he sleepeth feareth the power of no aduersary so the saints by the sleeep of death are taken out of the hands of al aduersaries and do enioy the security of eternal safety ibidem As a Waspe stinging a stone doth not hurt the stone but her selfe by loosing her sting so death lost his sting by running vpon life which is Iesus Christ Athanasius de passione domini As water falling vpon the earth is swallowed vp of it so that it is no more seen so a man by death falling into the earth is so consumed and destroyed that he is neuer founde againe in the condition of his mortall state Idiota de contemplatione mortis cap. 10. As all riuers runne into the sea so all they that come into this fluctuous life must enter into the sea of death For death is the punishmente of all the tribute of all the prison of all the conquerour of all and the receptacle of all Ibidem cap. 13. As he that woulde conquer a castle at the first doth make way to the ruine with his greater shot after hee doeth assault inuade and possesse it so dealeth death who first sendeth his battering shotte of greate sicknesse and infirmity which doth so vanquish and breake the naturall strength of the body that the soule can no longer defend her castle and then death seiseth vpon it Ludo. Granat l. 1. ducis peccat As for the biting of an aspe there is no remedy vnlesse the parts infected be cut away so certaine vices are healed onely by death Aristot. As pilgrims are cheerfully welcommed into Innes or lodginges yet ere their departing some account of expenses is made vnto them so though we haue a litle shew of pleasāt entertainment in this world yet at our deaths we must render a seuere and strict account for the same Stella de contemptu mundi As no man doth maruel that that is molten which might be melted or burnt which is combustile so to be dead is not to be maruelled at because we are mortall Plut. As borrowed money is willingly to be paide againe so our life which God hath lent vs is without repining to be rendered to him againe when he cals for it idem No man taketh it in ill part to haue a candle lighted but euery one misliketh to haue it put out so we reioice at a birth but sorrow at death Idem He that beyond measure is giuen to wine doeth also sucke vp the dregs so there are many that loue their liues so wel that they would not die no not in old age Sen. As he is more prosperous whom a speedy wind bringeth into the hauen then hee that in a calm is wearied vpon the sea so hee is more fortunate whom speedy death taketh out of the miseries of his life Seneca As fire burneth fiercely when it hath store of fewel but
Panacea called of Apothecaries Oppopanax hath a remedie for all diseases so the death of Christ is powerfull agaynst all hurtfull affections and dangerous desires Prior pars siâ—mil ex lib. 25. Plin. cap. 4. As Christs coate was without wemme so his life was without crime As without the Sunne there shoulde bee continuall night so without Christ there shoulde bee euerlasting destruction Clemens Alexandrinus ad Gentes As an Husband-man dooth cast his seede not in this corner and in that corner of his lande but casteth it euerye where throughout his whole lande so Christ commendeth the doctrine of pietie to rich and poore learned and ignoraunt to the strong and weake albeit hee knoweth what successe it shall haue Chrysostom Hom. 45. â—n Matthew As the soule is the life of the bodie so Christ is the life of the soule Petrus Chrysologus sermone 19. As at the comming of the diuell all nations mourned so at the comming of the Lord Iesus all people reioyced Arnobius in Psal 46. As an aduocate pleading for an offender taketh vppon himselfe the cause and faultes of him whome hee patronizeth as if they were his owne when notwithstanding hee is guiltlesse so Christ beeing without sinne tooke vpon him our transgressions and suffered for them as if they had beene his owne Chrysostome Sermone aduersus haereticos tom 5. As in a redde hote sworde there are actions and perfections of two natures the yron cuttes and the fire burnes so in Christ there is two Natures his Diuinitie and Humanitie and both haue their actions and perfections Damascenus lib. 3. cap. 15. defide As the Vnscorne by touching poysoned water with his Horne maketh it wholsome whereuppon Naturalistes saie that before hee drinkes hee putteth his Horne into the Water so Christ by his Humanitie hath made the poysoned Waters wholsome and hath purified our soules from infection Iacobus de Valentia in Psalmum 42. As Golde and a Pearle make one Ring so GOD and man make one Christ Themistocles hauing offended Philip the King of Macedonia and coulde no waye appease his anger meeting his young sonne Alexander tooke him in his armes and mette Philip in the face Philip seeing the smyling countenannce of the childe was well pleased with Themistocles euen so if through thy manifolde sinnes and heynous offences thou prouoke the heauie displeasure of thy God insomuch as thou shalt tremble for horrour take his onelie begotten and welbeloued sonne Iesus in thine armes and then he neither can nor will be angrie with thee It is written that the blood of a Lambe dooth appease the cruell rage of a fierce Lyon so the bloud of the immaculate Lambe Christ dooth pacifie the wrath of God When the brethren of Ioseph had solde him to the Ismaelites to pacifie their Father Iacob they brought his Coate all to bee bloudyed so if wee will appease GOD our Father wee must bring vnto him the blouddie Garment of his sonne The Adamant though it bee so harde that nothing can bruse it yet if the warme bloud of a Goate bee powred vppon it it bursteth so although the heart of the Atheist vnbeleeuer be so hard that neither reward nor reuenge can mollifie it so stoute that no persuasion can breake it yet if the grace of God purchased by the bloud of Christ do but once touch it it renteth in sunder and is enforced to acknowledge an omnipotent and euerlasting Iehouah Astrologers say that the Sunne passeth through these three signes Leo Virgo and Libra so the Sonne of righteousnesse Chryst Iesus in the lawe came as a Lyon threatning and destroying in the time of grace he came into the lappe of a Virgine in great humilitie and at the daie of iudgement hee will come in Libra to giue to euerie one according as he hath deserued As Theseus beeing guided by Ariadnes threede which shee tyed at the entrance into Dedalus Labyrinth escaped all the daunger and errour of it euen so wee must make Christ the doore by which wee must enter into the Labyrinth of all our affayres and tie Rahabs threede at this entraunce and followe it all the waye that so wee maie bee safe and goe in and out and finde pasture As the life of Christ is the life of life so the death of Christ is the death of death It is reported that the Lybard vseth a strange kind of policie to the Ape He lyeth downe vpon the ground as though he were starke dead which the Apes seeing come altogether and in despight skip vpon him This the Libard beareth patiently till hee thinkes they haue wearied themselues with their sporting Then sodainly hee likewise leapes vp and catches one in his mouth and in each foote one which immediatly hee killeth and deuoureth so Christ being laid in the dust the diuell insulted ouer him and trampled vpon him but he like a liuely Libard starting vp on Easter day astonished the soldiours set to keepe him which were the Diuels Apes and made them lie like dead men As blind Sampson by his death killed the Philistins when they were playing the Apes in mocking and mowing at him so Christ by his death destroyed the diuell Straliger writeth that the Chamelion when he espies a serpent taking shade vnder a tree climes vp into that tree and le ts downe a threed breathed out of his mouth as small as a Spiders threed at the ende wherof there is a little drop as cleare as any pearle which falling vpon the Serpents head kils him so Christ climing vp into the tree of his Crosse le ts downe a threed of bloud issuing out of his side like Rahabs red threed hanging out of her window the least drop whereof being so pretious and so peerelesse falling vpon the serpents head kils him The wilde Bull of all thinges cannot abide any red colour therefore the hunter for the nonce standing before a Tree puts on a red garment whome when the Bull sees hee runnes harde at him as harde as hee canne driue but the Hunter slipping aside the Buls hornes sticke fast in the Tree as when Dauid slipped aside Sauls speare stucke fast in the wall so Christ standing before the Tree of his Crosse puts on a redde garment dipt and dyed in his owne bloud as one that commeth with redde garmentes from Bozra therefore the Diuell and his Aungels like wilde Bulles of Bazan runne at him but he shifting for himselfe their hornes sticke fast in his crosse as Abrahams Ram by his hornes stucke fast in the briers thus is the diuell caught and killed A Dragon indeede kils an Elephant yet so as the Elephant falling downe kils the Dragon with him an Elephant kils Eleazar yet so as Eleazar falling down kils the Elephant with him so the diuell killing Christ was killed of him When Mahomet the second of that name besieged Belgrade in Seruia one of his Captaines at length got vp vpon the wall of the Citie with banner displaied A noble Bohemian espying this ranne to the Captaine
and clasping him fast about the middle asked one Capistranus standing beneath whether it would bee any daunger of damnation to his soule if he should cast himselfe downe headlong with the Dog so hee tearmed the Turke to bee slaine with him Capistranus aunswering that it was no daunger at all to his soule the Bohemian forthwith tumbled himselfe downe with the Turke in his armes and so by his owne death onelie saued the life of al the Citie so the deuil like the great Turke besieging not onely one Citie but euen all mankinde Christ alone like this noble Bohemian encountred with him And seeing the case was so that this Dog the Diuell coulde not bee killed starke dead except Christ dyed also therefore he made no reckoning nor account of his life but gaue himselfe to death for vs that he only dying for all the people by his death our deadly enemie might for euer be destroyed As it was bootlesse for Golias to brandish his speare against Dauid so it little auailed the Diuel to shake his speare likewise in the hand of the soldior against the heart of Christ As Dauid hauing heard Golias prate talke his pleasure when they came to the point at the first stroke ouerthrewe him so Christ with that very selfe same speare which gaue him a little venny in comparison or if it be lawful for me so to speake but a phillip on the side which was soone after recured gaue the Diuell a deadlie wound in the forehead which with al his pawes he shal neuer be able to claw off As Dauid only with his sling slew Golias so Christ only by his death and by the power of his crosse which is the sling of Dauid did conquer and subdue the diuel The Palme tree though it haue manie waights at the top and many snakes at the roote yet still it sayes I am neither oppressed with the waights nor distressed with the snakes Penny royall being hung vp in the larder house yet buds his yellow flowers and Noahs Oliue tree being drowned vnder the water yet keepes hir greene branch and Aarons rod being clung and drie yet brings forth ripe Almonds and Moses bramble bush being set on fire yet shines and is not consumed so Christ the true Palme tree though all the iudgments of God and all the sinnes of the world like vnsupportable waights were laide vppon him yea though the cursed Iewes stoode beneath like venemous snakes hissing and biting at him yet hee was neither so oppressed with them nor so distressed with these but that euen vpon his crosse he did most flourish when he was most afflicted The Phenix though sitting in his neaste among the hote spices of Arabia hee bee burnt to ashes yet still hee saies I die not but olde age dyeth in mee so Christ the true Phenix though lying in his graue among the hot spices wherewith Nichodemus embalmed him hee was neuer like to rise from death to life againe yet hee dyed not but mortalitie died in him and immortality so liued in him that euen in his sepulchre hee did most liue when he seemed most to be dead Epaminondas beeing sore wounded in fight demaunded of his souldiours standing by whether his enemies were ouerthrowne or no. They aunswered yea Then whether his buckler were hole or no. They aunswerered also I. Nay then sayes hee all is well This is not the ende of my life but the beginning of my glorie For nowe your deere Epaminondas dying thus gloriouslie shall rather bee borne againe then buried so Christ was sore wounded but his enemyes death and the Diuell were ouerthrowne and spoyled His Buckler which was his Godheade was whole and vntouched Therefore there was no harme doone His death was no death but an exaltation vnto greater glory As snowe couereth the grounde when it is ragged and deformed so Christ with his coat without seame couereth our sins and though they were as crimson yet hee maketh them white as snow As Gedeons fleece when it was moist the earth was drie but when it was drie the earth was moist so when Christes fleece was moist as a greene Tree then were all we drie like rotten stickes but when his fleece was drie all the bloud and water being wrounge out of his precious side then were wee moistned with his grace As Iacob trauailing towardes Haram when hee had laide an heape of stones vnder his heade and taken a nap by the way was much reuiued with it after his tedious iourney so Christ trauailing towardes heauen when hee had slept a little in that stony sepulchre which was hewen out of a Rocke liued then most Princelie after his paynefull passion As Ionas was in the Whales belly three dayes and three nights so and so long was the Sonne of man in the bowels of the earth yet he had no more hurt then Ionas had As Daniell was not hurt of the hungrie Lions so Christ was not hurt either of the terrours of death or of the horrours of Hell As Adam and Eue both in one daie were expelled out of Paradice about noon when the winde blewe so Christ and the theefe both in one day were receiued into Paradice yea both in one houre of the day about the sixt houre that is about twelue a clocke in the day time As Peters shadow gaue health to the sicke so Christs shadow giueth life to the dead As Elizeus being dead raised vp one frō the dead so Christ being dead was a Phisition to the dead Pliny reporteth that there was a dyall set in Campus Martius to note the shadowes of the sunne which agreeing verie wel at the first afterwards for thirty yeares together did not agree with the sun so all the time of those thirty yea three and thirtie yeares that Christ liued in his hmiliation heere vpon earth you might haue seen such a dyall in which time the shadow of the diall did not agree with the shining of the sunne but thankes bee to God all the better for vs. As the sunne went backward tenne degrees in the dyall when Ezechias went forward fifteene degrees in his life hee liued fifteene yeares longer so the going of this sunne Iesus Christ tenne degrees backewarde hath healed all our sicknesse and set vs a thousand degrees forward and infinitly aduanced vs by his death to euersting life As Rachel died her selfe in childbirth to bring forth her sonne Beniamin aliue so Christ dyed to bring vs vnto euerlasting life As when many byrdes are caught in a net if a Pellican or any other great bird that is among them gette out all therest that are little ones follow after so Christ as a great byrde hauing broken through the net of death all we escape with him As far as the Tree of life excelleth the tree of knowledge of good and euill so far the crosse of Christ excelleth the tree of life As hony being found in a dead Lion the death of the Lion was the sustenance of Samson so Christes gall
is our hony the bitter death of Christ by reason of his righteousnes is the sweete life of man As Hammons face was couered when he was condemned to dye so the Sunnes face was couered when Christ was condemned to dye As Dauid rent his garment when hee heard of Ionathans death so the Temple rent his vaile when it hearde of Christes death As the king of Niniuy threw vp dust vpon his head when he and his subiects were appointed to dye so the graues opened threwe vp dust vpon their heades when Christ was appointed to dye As Iob cut his haire when hee heard of his Childrens death so the stones were cutte in peeces and cloue asunder when they heard of Christes death As there were fowre riuers in the terrestriall Paradice which watered the whole earth so in Christ who is our Paradice there are founde fowre fountaines The first fountaine is of mercie to wash awaie our sinnes with the water of remission The second is of wisedome to asswage our thirst with the water of discretion The third of grace to water the plants of good workes with the dewe of deuotion And the fourth fountaine is to season our affections with the waters of emulation Bernardus sermone primo de natiuitate Christi As the Sunne exceedeth all celestiall lightes in quantitie brightnes dignity and power so Christ excelleth all the Saintes in goodnes wisedome honour might F. Ioannes a S. Geminiano lib. 1. de caelo et elementâ—s cap. 91 Olimpus a mountaine of Macedonia is so hye that the cloudes are said to be vnder it for it is of such an altitude that neuer any wind toucheth the top of it neither any grosnes of ayre ascendeth to it which the Philosophers ascending that they might viewe the courses motions of the stars coulde not liue there vnlesse they caried with them spunges full of water that so by the attraction of water they might draw grosser ayre as it is reported in history so Christ hath so farre exceeded al the Saints in excellencie of life all the whirlewindes of passions and tribulations in the altitude of patience and all men in the height of wisedome so that the Philosphers coulde not reach vnto the height of his diuinity but by spunges that is by creatures full of the water of celestiall wisedome Ibidem As the hearbe Dracontea hath the similitude of a serpent but is without venim yea it is most contrary to serpentes and especially to vipers so Christ had the shape of sinfull flesh but he was altogither without sinne yea he is most opposit to it and especially to the deuill Idem lib. 3. de vegetabilibus et plantis cap. 85. As the flower is the Medium betweene the branche and the fruit so Christ is the mediator betweene man and God Ibid. As a Hen doth gather her chickeÌ„s vnder her winges doth defend them against the kite doth feed them with the meate she findeth so Christ doth gather his elect vnder the wings of his protectioÌ„ in one faith vnity of the church doth defend theÌ„ against the raging of the world doth feede theÌ„ not only with material bread but with the spirituall foode of his heauenly doctrine Idem lib 4. de natatilibus et volatilibus cap. 98. The Holy Ghost AS Iron cast into the fire doth participate of the nature of fire his owne substance stil remayning so man by the working of the holy Ghost is transformed into God yet still remayning man beeing a partaker of the diuine purity noblenes as he was a partaker whoe said I doe not now liue but Christ liueth in me Ludov. Granat li. 1 duc peccat As oyle among all liquid substances is the fittest too preserue light and to cure woundes so the dinine vnction of the holy Ghost doth cure the woundes of our will and doth illuminate the darkenes of ourvnderstanding ibidem As he that is ouer come with much wine loseth the vse of his sences neither differeth much from a dead man by reason of the strength of the wine so when any one is full of the heauenly wine of the holy Ghost he dieth to the world and hath all his sences with all their desires shackled and fettred Ibidem As water sette ouer a fire when it doth wax hot as if it had forgot the owne proper nature swelleth aloft imitating the nature and lightnes of the fire so also the soule being inflamed with the heauenly fire of the holy Ghost is exalted aboue it selfe and caried vp to heauen whence that fire is sent Ibidem As the Sun shineth of his owne accord the day is enlightned a fountaine streameth and a showre falleth so the heauenly spirit infuseth it selfe Cyprian As the soule infused into the body is sufficient to make all the members liuing to moue and direct them vnto their seuerall offices and functions which are many diuers so the grace of the holy Ghost which is a forme supernaturall and diuine ' when it once hath entred into the soule is sufficient to moue and direct it to the acting and execuring of all the dutyes of a spirituall life Lod. Gran. in lib. de deuotione As it is not possible that the earth should fructifie onely by rayne except the wind doth blow vpon it so it is not possible that onely doctrine should correct a man except the holy Ghost woorke togither in his hart Chrysost hom 20. oper imperf As the figures of things are not seene in a blemished glasse so a man caÌ„not recelue illumination from the holy Ghost except hee cast away sinne and the lustes of the flesh Basilius de spiritu sancto As fire is not diminished albeit many candels be lighted at it as Science is not impayred although it maketh many men skillfull so the holy Ghost is neuer a whit impouerished although they be innumerable that participate of his graces Philo Iudaeus lib. de gigantibus As one the same showre descending vpon the worlde appeareth white vpon thornes red vpon roses purple vpon the hyacinth and of other colours falling vpoÌ„ diuers and sundry coloured things so the holy Ghost being one not any way diuisible doth diuide his grace to euery one as he pleaseth in one he is wisedome in an other sanctification in an other prophecy c. and yet the same Spirit Cyrillus Ierosolymit catechesi 16. As the body of flesh is none other thing but flesh so the gift of the holy Ghost is none other thing but the holy Ghost Aug. lib. 15. de trinitate cap 19. As the soule doth giue life to al the parts and members of mans body making the cye to see the care to heare so in the rest so the holy Ghost doth giue life to the meÌ„bers of Christes body which is his Church Idem lib. de gratia noui testamenti As heate commeth from fire so the holy Spirit proceedeth from the Father Paschasius de Spiritu sancto As Aaron is called Christ and
Dauid and Saule and others also and yet there is but one true Christ so an Angell is called a spirit and our soule is called a spirit and the winde is called a spirit and there is an vncleane spirit and yet there is peculiarly but one holy Spirit Cyrillus Ierosolymit catechesi 16. The holy Ghost is compared to fire to a Doue to a cloude and to a winde To fire because he doth enlighten our vnderstanding and exalteth it from the earth to heauen To a Doue because hee maketh vs simple gentle peaceable and friendes to all To a Cloud because he doth refresh and coole vs and defend vs from the heat of the flesh and doth asswage and moderate the madnes and fury of our passions And to a vehement and strong winde because he moueth and inclineth our will to all good Lodouicus Granatensis lib. 1 ducis peccatorum Heauen EVen as King Assuerus in his imperiall city of Susan shewed to his Princes all his maiesty cost royal magnificence so the great King of Kinges in his imperiall and roiall city of heauen doth shew to his elect the vnmesurablenesse of his riches wisdome liberality and goodnes and the glory and excellency of his maiesty Lodouicus Granatensis lib. 1. Ducis peccatorum As no man entred into the pallace of king Assuerus cloathed in sackecloth so it is lawfull for no man to enter into the pallace of God with a seruile garment but he must be cloathed with a wedding garment that is adorned and beautified with true loue and charity idem in eod lib. As a captaine when he goeth forth to fight or when he begirdeth any defenced castle deuiseth many kinde of stratagems for the obtaining of it rayseth fortresses maketh bulwarks and vseth many inuentions to assault and batter it that at the length he may conquer it so by all means wee must labour and endeuour that wee may get vnto our selues that most excellent place and cheefest good for it is written The kingdom of heauen suffereth violence and the violent take it by force Lodouicus Granatensis in lib. de deuotione As the Patriarch Iacob thought his 7. yeares seruice short in respect of the great loue hee bare to Rachell so wee should thinke all the tribulations of this world short in respect of the great loue we shuld beare to Heauen which is more beautifull then any Rachell Idem in suis Meditationibus As a traueller goes farre from his country and family yet is desirous to returne thither againe euen so wee as banished from this world should long for our returne to heauen our true borne countrey Stella de contemptu mundi As the pretious pearles called Vnions albeit they bee bred in the sea yet haue more affinitie with heauen the semblance of which they do represent so a godly a generous mind doth more depend of heauen whence he fetcheth his original then of the earth in which he liueth As a house excelleth a fewe ashes as a cittie excelleth a house a prouince a cittie the Romane empire a prouince and all the earth the Romane Empire and the whole circumference the point of a circle so farre incomparably Heauen extendeth and excelleth the comparison and proportion of al other things Cyrillus Ierosolymitanus catechesi 6. As there is extreame darkenesse in hell so there is glorious light in heauē Basilius lib. hexa As a spherical figure is most capable to contayne thinges so heauen being of the same figure is most capable of all ioies and blessednes As there are tenne commaundements in Moses Tables so according to moderne Astrologers there are tenne spheres in heauen Luna Mercurius Venus Sol Mars Iupiter Saturnus Caelum stellatum Caelum cristallinū siue aqueum and Primum mobile Angels EVen as the elder brethren do carry their younger brethren when they bee but little ones in their armes and doe keepe them with great care and prouidence after the same maner the Angels which are as our elder brethren do tende and keepe vs who are as their younger brethren little ones and do beare vs in their hands Lodo. Granatens lib. de deuotione As Angels are pure spirits so also pure worship and spiritual seruice is required of them ibidem As caelum crystallinū siue aqueum is not seene of vs so Angels in their owne nature are not visible vnto vs. F. Ioannes a S. Geminiano libro 1. de caelo Elementis Cap. 5. As the fire is of a more subtile substance then any other element so Angels are of a more immateriall substance then any other creature ibidem As the fire is moued of Sol and Mars as sayth Rabbi Moyses so Angels are moued of God who alwayes attende his will ibidem As the fire cannot be touched by reason of the heate so Angels cannot be touched by reason of their immaterialitie◠ibidem As the fire is a powreful element for deuastation so are angels in executing the wrath of God As a Phisitian leaueth his patient when he is past cure so the angels leaue vs when we fall into desperation Origenes hom 2 in Hieremiam As there are powers vnder earthly kings for ordering of state matters so there are principalities vnder the heauenly king for executing of his will and setting forth his praise Epiphanius haeresi 4. As our frendes lament for vs when as by reason of sicknesse and weakenes wee can receaue no meate so the holy Angels doe mourne for their soules that are not fedde with celestiall and spirituall foode Macarius hom prima As smoke banisheth Bees and filthy sauours driue awaie doues so the corrupted stinch of sinne driueth awaie the Angell that is the keeper of our life Basilius in Psalm 33. As in martiall affayres some soldiers are appointed to administer and bestow honours and some to execute vengeance punishment so holy Angelles are sent to the good and preseruation of man but diuels are sent to punish the wicked and rebellious Chrisostom hom 3 de patientia Iob. As after death there is no repentance auaylable vnto man so after the fall of Angells there was no place of repentance left vnto them Damascenus lib. 2 de fide cap. 4. The worde of God AS the same Manna was wholesome foode vnto some and corruption and wormes vnto others so the same worde of God is saluation vnto some and destruction vnto others Orig. hom 3 in numeros Wine much comforteth those that bee sound and as the scripture saith it maketh merry the hart of man but if he drinke it that hath a feuer it bringeth daunger and destruction vnto him so the word of God bringeth life vnto some and death vnto others Idem homil 5. in Iudic. As a lanterne doth lighten our steps so the word of God doth illuminate our vnderstandinges Hilarius in Psal 118. A Tree by continuall moysture doth grow to a great height so a soule that is cōtinually watered with the diuine word commeth to the perfection of Vertue Chrisostomus hom de Anna et
make it fructifie Idem hom 47. in Mat. As we can easily and with pleasure sit out long playes so for the benefite of our soules we should at the least be as willing to sit out long Sermons Idem hom 50. in Ioannem As we are readie to runne to Musicke and merriments so wee shoulde bee as prone and inclined to flock vnto sermons ibidem As some returning from a Garden doe bring flowers with them some out of an orchard doe bring apples and some comming from great bankets do bring some of the fragments to their children so thou returning from a sermon bring from it vnto thy wife children friends some good counsels and wholsom admonitions idem hom 5. ad pop Antioch As Sea-fish although they liue in salt water yet haue need of seasoning so manie continuallie heare Sermons and yet are neuer the better for them Clemens Alexandrinus lib. 1. Stromatum As those schollers learne better then others that learne with awe so they heare sermons more profitablie that heare with feare reuerence Basil in principiū Prou. As he that eateth meat doth first masticate it with his teeth and then letteth it downe into his stomack so when we heare a sermon we should meditate vpon it and consider what was spoken whereupon it was spoken and to what ende Chrysost hom 4. oper imperfect As it nothing profiteth to haue eaten meat if thou presently vomit it forth again so it nothing profiteth to haue heard a sermon if thou forth with forget it ibidem A Christian AS a father that bringeth vp his sonne to dedicate him to God in the ministerie of his worde doth accustom him from his yong yeares to ecclesiasticall matters and directeth the whole course of his life to the purposed end so God after he hath elected any man to the participation of his glory he directeth him by his fatherly care to the way of Christianitie and righteousnesse which leadeth to that glory faithfully continueth him in it vntil he come to his wished end Lod. Gra. li. I. Ducis peccat As wee admire the happie estate of a Prince that is borne heire of a tēporal kingdonie so much more ought we to admire and wonder at the most blessed estate of a Christian who is borne not to a temporall kingdome but to a kingdome euerlasting to reigne in heauen with God himself and with his blessed Saints for euer euer ibid As a traueller that euerie day goeth forwarde a little if hee perseuer and continue in his progresse soone commeth to the ende of his iourney but if he faile and faint in it and a little after beginne his voyage anew consumeth all his life in it neither euer commeth to the ende of his iourney so it is with a Christian he must stil walke forward for when he saith that it is sufficient then he playes the deficient idem in li. de deuotione Euen as he that lieth in the midst of a swift riuer if hee doth not labour to take fast footing and raise vp his bodie hee is in danger to be borne down and swallowed vp of the water so in this Christian and spiritual life which is like a deepe and dangerous riuer he liueth in manie ieopardies of falling who with tooth and naile doth not labour to profite and go forward in it idem in lib. de deuot As a Harper that intendeth to play vpon his harpe all the day ought to haue his strings well tuned all that time And as a hūter or a falconer that is disposed to hunt and hauke all the day ought all that time to haue his hauks hounds in a readines and at hand so the life of a perfect christian being none other thing then a continuall hunting of God and his grace and a continuall harmonie of the inward spirit which is made by praier it is meet and requisite that he that will attend vpon this exercise that his spirit and bodie bee alwayes disposed and apt vnto it idem in lib. de deuot As the chiefest commendation of a Pilot consisteth not in the guidance of his ship in a calme but in a tempest so the chiefest commendation of a christian consisteth not in his seruice to God in prosperitie but in aduersitie ibidem As it is a thing most honorable for anie knight or soldior to beare the armes of his king and captaine euen as honorable is it to a true Christian man to suffer trauel and persecution as his foreguide and leader Iesus Christ did Stella de contemtu mundi A rock although beat with the billows and waues of the sea continueth firm neither is remoued out of his place so a true Christian albeit crushed with the persecutions and tribulations of the worlde persisteth stedfast neither letteth his hope in Christ faint Lodouicus Granatensis lib. 1. Ducispeccatorum Man AS a Painter in delineating and pourtraying a picture hath it in his power to make it of what fashion hee list so hath God the framing and disposition of man Lodouicus Granat lib. 1. Ducis peccatorum As he that from an high tower hangeth by a small threed which an other holdeth in his hande is at the dispose of him either for life or death so is man at Gods ibidem As a stone alwaies of his own nature falleth downward neither can it lift it self vpwards without externall helpe so man by reason of the corruptiō of sin doth alwaies tend downwards that is hee doth alwaies slide to the loue desire of earthly things but if he be to be lifted vp aboue that is to the loue of heauenly things he hath neede of the right hand of the highest ibidem Euen as Iuie naturally seeketh for some post or tree which it may leane vnto or some wall by which it may be supported and creep aloft it being not able to sustain and hold vp it selfe and as a woman naturally seeketh for the supportation and shadowe of man for she is an vnperfect creature knoweth that the aide and helpe of man is necessarie for her so mans nature being weak seeketh supportation of god and being needy wanting many things dooth seek for the shadow and refuge of God ibidem As it is preposterous that the Mistresse should waite vpon the maide so is it intollerable that the flesh should gouerne the spirit and the appetite the reason ibidem Euen as a Gloue is made for the vse of the hand ascabberd that a sword may be sheathed in it so also the heart of man is created for the vse of God neither without him can any rest be found Euen as the body of man is created for the soule so it shal be punished with the soule As water receiued into diuerse vessels doth put on diuerse figures and shapes according to the disposition and nature of the vessels so doth grace infused into men hence commeth the varietie of gifts yet the same spirit that infuseth them As snow beginneth and endeth in water so man
bee something without a smell but there cannot bee a smell without some thing so a woorke without prayer is something but prayer without a good worke is nothing and if thou prayest thou prayest not of fayth Idem hom 18. As fire doth scowre off the rust from iron so prayer dooth scowre our soules from the rust of sinne Idem hom 42. ad pop Antioch As no medicine can cure a wound if the iron remaine within it so no prayer profiteth his soule who hath deadlie hatred festring and rankling in it Augustinus de rectitudine Catholicae conuersationis Plato wryteth that the Lacedemonians were neuer heard to pray for anye thing but that which was good and profitable so a Christian should neuer pray for any thing but that which is good in the eyes of God and profitable for himselfe Isidorus Clarius orat de fructu orandi tom 1. Almes deedes AS the Princes of this worlde determining a voyage doe sende their furniture treasure and prouision before them and they themselues folow after so we are to diuide our goodes amongst the poore that they may prepare an entrance into life for vs. Stella de contemptu mundi As water sprinkled vpon an hot glowing gad of iron although it seeme to coole the hote burning iron yet at the length it causeth it to burne the more vehementlie so the workes of mercie albeit at a blush they seeme to make the soule lesse feruent by reason of the sundrie businesses which happen in exercising them yet they make it more earnest and vehement in the wayes of the Lord. Lodouicus Granat lib. de deuotione Euen as nothing is more naturall vnto God then to doe well vnto all his creatures so hee that participateth more of the spirit and goodnesse of God hee is more readie to doe good vnto others ibidem As in a treasurie they vse to mingle no false mony which outwardlie hath a little golde and seemes to be good yet inwardlie is a mixture of most base mettalles euen so and no otherwise are the woorkes and almes deedes of Hypocrites who outwardlie will appeare iust as if they were no sinners when inwardlie they haue seared and foule deformed consciences Stella de contemptu mundi As water quencheth burning fire so almes deedes resisteth sinnes Clemens Alexand lib. 3. paedagogi cap. 7. As seede cast into the earth bringeth forth profit to the sower so bread cast into the lap of the poore will in time to come yeelde thee great commoditie Basil hom in dite scentes As corne kept in thy garner is deuoured of vermine but being cast into thy lande is not onelie preserued but increased so riches kept in thy Chest vnder locke and key doe waste and fade but if thou disperse them into the bellies of the hungrie they doe not onelie not vanish but rise to greater value Chrysostomus homil 7. de poenitentia As an vnfruitfull Elme giueth moysture to the Vine that the Vine maye bring forth fruite both for it selfe and for the Elme so let thy substance further the reliefe of the poore in this world that their sanctitie may further thee in the other Chrysost hom 12. operis imperf As hee that wryteth an Epistle to a friend whilest hee writeth seeth in his heart the person of his friend to whom he writeth so hee that giueth almes for Gods sake seeth no man in his heart but the person of GOD alone for whom hee giueth it Idem homil 13. operis imperfect As worldlie men by Vsurie encrease their pelfe to their damnation so spirituall men by almes deedes encrease and multiplie the loue of God towardes them to their saluation Chrysost hom 7. in Epist ad Rom. As no man sorroweth to receiue a kingdome or greeueth to haue remission of his sinnes so let no man sorrowe to lay out his money vpon maintenance for the poore because hee shall receyue great gaynes by it Idem Homil. 21. in Epist ad Rom. As rich mens sonnes for an ornament doe weare Golde Chaynes about their neckes as a signe of their greatnesse and Nobilitie so wee ought alwayes to bee arrayed in the roabes of bountie that wee may shewe our selues to bee the sonnes of him who is mercifull who causeth his Sunne to arise both vpon the good and badde idem Hom. 1. ad Philippen As in physicall confections one herbe is predominant so in spiritualll matters almes deeds are in especiall account with God idem hom 9. ad Hebraeos As Iudges hauing receiued gifts do not suddenly proceed to pronounce sentence but endeuour to agree the parties so the Lord dealeth with them whose giftes are giuen to the poore August ser 146. As wee are not once to doe well but alwayes so we are not once to giue almes but alwayes Chrysosthm hom 1. in Epist ad Philippen A lumpe of vnmolten Lead put into a vessell full of holes doth rest in one side of the vessell but if it be melted with fire it filleth all the holes so an heape of mony being frozen with the colde of auarice lieth in the chest profitable to no man but if it be melted with the fire of diuine loue and powred out it floweth to all partes of the poore and relieuing the needy it filleth all the holes crannies of pouertie Hector Pintus in cap. 5. Ezech. 37. As the sea is fed by land Riuers which hath no neede of them when as the lande is left drie so manie bestowe their largesse and bounty vpon them that haue no need and let the needie and distressed perish idem in cap. 18. As sheepe and oxen are not eaten except they be dead and dressed so many Churles giue no almes but when they are dead and buried idem in cap. 16. As mount Oliuet according to Augustine was a mountaine of oyntment and vnction of fatnesse and refection of medicine and cure by reason of the abundance of oyle there growing so a mercifull man may be fitly resembled to this mountaine by reason of his almes which are the oyle of mercie and pitie As that seed is the best which is white within so are those almes deeds the best which come from a pure intent F. Ioannes a S. Geminiano lib. 3. de vegetabilibus Plant. cap. 20. As one Torch borne before dooth giue more light then foure borne behinde so one good deede done in life time is more acceptable vnto God then fortie after death Polancus in Methodo adiuuandi eos qui moriuntur Deuotion HE that woulde haue Iron alwayes to glow and shine redde hot it is necessary that hee alwaies applie it to the fire for if hee take it from the fire forthwith it returneth to his naturall coldenesse so the most noble affection of Deuotion so dependeth of that that man bee continuallie vnited vnto God by actuall loue and contemplation that if hee turne himselfe but a little from him forthwith hee slideth backe to the bosome of his mother that is to the olde disposition which before hee
some such like solide substance which may stay the image from gliding thorow so the image of truth doth not shine but in solide and sound soules that are founded in true vertue As the wilde beast is taken after hee hath beene long hunted so the truth appeareth after it hath beene discussed by reason and sought with labour Clemens Alex. lib. 1. Strom. As a Gardiner knoweth how to gather a Rose without pricking his fingers so a contemplatour and searcher out of the truth knoweth how to finde it without gathering of falshoode with it Idem lib. 2. Strom. As all liuing creatures do breath the same ayre but after diuerse maners so many come vnto the truth but after diuerse wayes Idem lib. 6. There are many wayes that crosse the kings hie way wherof some lead to headlong Rockes other to swift Riuers others to the deepe sea therefore hee that is wise will keepe the Kings troden path which is freed from daunger so when others speake this and that wee must not depart from the truth but we must more exactlie and diligently seeke out the knowledge of it idem Hom. 7. If any man should see the citie of Rome subuerted of enemies and neglecteth the defence of it when hee might haue defended it he doth seeme to haue betrayed it because he freed it not when he might so when thou seest the truth impugned and indaungered of wicked men and maist defend it if thou dost not safe gard it thou betraiest it Chrysost hom 25. operis imperfect The beautie of Helen so inflamed the gallants of Greece that for her they a long time ventured their liues at the siege of Troy and at last sacked it so the holie Martyrs of Christ Iesus haue most valiantlie not onelie ventured themselues at the siege of Sodome but layde downe their lyues for the Truthes sake which Truth of Christians is incomparably more beautifull then the Helen of the Grecians August Epist 9. As a Partridge is good meate but it is not eaten rawe because no stomacke can digest it so truth is a most excellent food but it is not rawly or sowrely to bee propounded but rosted or boiled seasoned with the salt of wisdom for there is no stomacke that will receiue the raw and sowre truth Hector Pintus in cap. 58. Esayae As there is but one God so there is but one truth which is Christ As the purest Emerald shineth brightest when it hath no Oyle so truth delighteth when it is apparelled worst Concord AS thou maiest easily breake speare by speare beeing seuered one by one which thou canst not do being ioyned togither so those that by variance are parted are easily ouercome when as those that hold togither cannot be subdued Plut. Two or mo voyces sounding togither doe make better harmonie so whatsoeuer is done in a familie let it bee done by the consent both of man and wife but yet by the dispose and order of the husband ibidem As in a body the best cōstitution is made of the temperature of moisture drines heat and cold so by the cōcord of brethren the stocke and progeny doth best florish idem The stone of Tuscia albeit great doth swimme aboue water but beeing broken in peeces it sinketh to the bottom so by concorde we are supported but by discorde wee go downwards and come to naught Plin. lib. 2. cap. 106. Aristot de Natura cap 12. As the stone of Scyros being whole doth flote aloft but being parted doth settle to the bottom so cōcord doth hold vs vp but discord doth tumble vs downe Plin. lib. 36. cap. 17. The Salamander doth not come forth but in great showers in fair weather she sheweth not her selfe so some only shew themselues in time of sedition and insurrection when peace is disturbed but in time of quiet and concord do lie as though they were dead As the members of a naturall body by consent do helpe one another so the members of a politike bodie by concord do ayd one another Macar hom 3. As no building can long be supported if the ligamēts be taken away so the church cannot grow to her perfectiō except it be bound with the bondes of peace charitie and cōcord Basil orat 1. de amore in deum As one eye cānot be turned about with out the other be also turned but they are alwaies turned togither one waie so the body and the soule and the whole society of the righteous shall haue such concorde agreement in heauen that they shall will no contrarieties but shal alwaies haue the same wil. Lodouicus Granatensis in suis septem Meditationibus Meditatione septima Decency AS one garment doth more become a wise man then any other albeit hee hate none so it is more seemely to liue in this place then in that Senec. The hearbe Chamaeleon doth chaunge the colour of the leaues according to the earth wherein it growes therefore in one place it is blacke in an other greene in an other blewe and in an other yellowe and so in other places of other colours so it is meete that a man order the frame of his life according to the placa time and persons where when and with whome heliueth Hospitality THe serpents of Syria haue no poyson for the people that are bredde in the countrie with them neyther doe they euer set vppon them but straungers they sting to the death so Ilanders are curteous inough to their owne countrimen but cruell to strangers As a Fisher casting his net into the sea doth catch fishes sometimes doth draw vp golde and precious Margarites so Lot catching men with his net catched also Angels not knowing of it Which Saint Paule spoke to this mans prayses saying Bee not forgetfull to lodge straungers for thereby some haue receiued Angels into their houses vnwares Chrysostomus concione 2. de Lazaro Many godles and profane Actaeons haue inough meate and lodging for their yelping houndes and bawling curres so thou who professest godlinesse and religion be at the least as liberal to thy poor brother who hath the image of God in him as well as thou thy selfe hast and for whome Christ died as well as hee did for thee Isidorus Clarius oratione vndecima tom 1. As Crowes doe waite vppon and conduct Storkes from one place to another and doe fight against their enemies which I gather because when the Storkes doe depart out of our Country there is not anie Crowe seene with vs and afterwardes they returne wounded an open signe of their helpefull ayde so men beeing not onely reasonable but religious creatures let them at the least performe as much one to another Basilius Hom. 8. exameron As he is monstrously malicious that dammeth vp a flowing fountaine or forbiddeth the Sun-shining or will not abide that another shoulde light his candle at his or that grudgeth to shewe the hie waie to a traueller so is he exceeding inhumane that will not profit another and may doe it without his owne discommoditie
the Heban blossomes open with the dewe and shut with the Sunne so louers in presence of their mistres haue their tōgues tied and their eyes open pleading with the one and being silent with the other As men allure Doues by the beauty of the house and reclaime Haukes by the fairenesse of the lure so loue ioyned with vertue is able to recall the most stragling Aeneas to make sailes againe to Carthage The ratling thunderbolt hath but his clap the lightning but his flash so hot loue begun in a moment endeth in a minute The drie touchwoode is kindled with lime the greatest mushrumpe groweth in one night the fire quicklie burneth the flaxe so loue easily entereth into the sharp wit without resistance and is harboured there without repentance In battailes there ought to be a doubtful sight and a desperate end in pleading a difficult entrance and a diffused determination so in loue there is a life without hope and a death without feare Fire commeth out of the hardest flint with the steele oyle out of the driest Ieate by the fire so loue out of the stoniest hart by faith by trust by time As the Hop the poale being neuer so high groweth to the end as the dry Beech kindled at the roote neuer leaueth vntill it come at the top and one drop of poyson dispearseth it selfe into euery veine so affection hauing caught holde of the heart and the sparkles of loue kindled in the liuer will suddainly though secretly flame vp into the head and spread it selfe into euery sinew New loue worketh like newe wine Or water in a caudron which when it fecleth the heate of the fire it forthwith boileth swelleth and is caried aloft As the Hunter plieth his houndes the Falkner his Hawkes and the fisher his angle forgetting the paine through delight of the pastime so the louer prosecuteth his loue esteeming all labors and troubles but trifles in respect of the inning hope of his amorous haruest As the sore called an Oncom or Fellon beginning at the fingers ende and by sufferance falling into the ioynt doth hazard a Mahem or at the least-wise a Cure so loue beginning at the eye and by sufferaunce descending to the heart doth threaten life or at the leastwise Reason as the one therefore at the first is to bee scalded so the other is presentlie to bee suppressed for without a timely violence either malady is incurable William Warner in his Pans Syrinx As fire in what place soeuer it bee euer worketh so our will neuer standes idle neyther knowes how to liue without louing As an Apple being well knit together gither and mellowed is more sweete and pleasing then when it is greene yet that apple being ouer-ripe and too much mellowed becomes wrinkled sapelesse and welneere sauourlesse euen such is the loue of men ouer yonge and ouer olde the one sowre and sharpe the other dry and sencelesse As one onely light makes an entire and perfect shadow whereas many lightes being togither confoundes and defaceth it euen so from one onely Frende and loyall louer true perfect loue is to be expected As one knowes not a Musition but either by his voice or touching his instrument euen so hee cannot bee reputed a perfect louer except hee make it knowne by the testimony of the true signes belonging to loue As without threed a needle serues to no vse so neither the pleasures of loue without due prosecution and though a needle haue two three eyes or more by reason whereof it carries as many threeds with it yet it makes but one entrance mary it makes the worke the faster euen so he that delightes to dally with many binds himselfe thereby the more strictly to her he loues in deede Leon Baptista Alberto Florentine in his Hecatonphila As the most constant patience being too farre prouoked conuerteth into furie so a wrathfull louer is more to bee feared than a sauage monster that hath no reason As the best wine doth make the sharpest Vineger so the deepest loue turneth to the deadliest hate Bauin though it burne bright is but a blase scalding water if it stande a while turneth almost to Ice Pepper though it be hote in the mouth is colde in the mawe so hote loue is soone cold and that affection that frieth in wordes commonlie freezeth in workes As Iupiter transformed himselfe into the shape of Amphitrio to embrace Alomaena into the forme of a swan to enioy Lada into a Bull to beguile Io into a showre of golde to winne Danae so Neptune changed himselfe into an Heyfer a Ramme a flood a Dolphin only for the loue of those hee lusted after And Apollo conuerted himselfe into a shepheard into a bird into a Lyon for the desire he had to heale his disease As the first draught of wine doth comfort the stomacke the second inflame the liuer the thirde fume into the heade so the first sip of loue is pleasant the second perillous the third pestilent The least sparke if it be not quenched wil burst into a flame the least moath in time eateth the thickest cloath and I haue read that in a short space there was a towne in Spain vndermined with Conies in Thessalia with Mowles with Frogges in Fraunce in Africa with Flies so loue which secretly creepeth into the mind as the rust dooth into the iron and is not perceiued consumeth the bodie yea and confounds the soule Iohn Lilly The little grain of Mustard-seed in time becommeth a tree the slender twigge groweth to a statelie greatnesse and that which with the hande might easilie haue beene pulled vp will hardly with the axe be hewen downe so loue at the first may be easily eradicated which being growne can hardly be razed As a sinew being cut though it be healed there will alwayes remaine a scarre or as fine linnen stained with blacke ynke though it be washed neuer so often will haue an iron mowle so the minde once mangled or maymed with loue though it be neuer so well cured with reason or cooled by wisedome yet there will appeare a scarre by the which one may gesse the minde hath beene pierced and a blemish whereby one may iudge the heart hath beene stained As they that angle for the Tortois hauing once caught him are driuen into such a lithernesse that they loose all their spirits being benummed so they that seeke to obtaine the good will of Ladies hauing once a little holde of their loue are driuen into such a traunce that they let go the hold of their libertie bewitched like those that view the head of Medusa or the Viper tied to the bough of the Beech tree which keepeth him in a dead sleepe though hee begin with a sweet slumber Newe Wine is more pleasaunt then wholesome and Grapes gathered before they be ripe may set the eyes on lust but they make the teeth on edge so loue desired in the bud not knowing what the blossome will bee may delight the conceit of the head but it
hinder a good mind the one by vexing and tormenting it by need the other by calling seducing it from vertue and honsty by delights and delicacy A hedghog foreseeing a tempest hideth himselfe in the earth so when a chaung of fortune happeneth the minde is to be fortified with precepts of philosophy As an archer somtimes hitteth the white sometimes shooteth neare it so fortune sometimes seaseth vppon our selues and sometimes vpon our goods Maximus apud Stobaeum ser 18. As a glasse sheweth what the face is so fortune sheweth what the man is Euripides apud Stob. 88. Grasse so long as it is greene doeth couer the mountaines and adorne the medowes and through the beauty doeth delight and refresh the eies of the beholders but when the heate of the sunne hath dryed vp the moysture and consumed it then it is many times made fewell for the fire so as long as fortune smileth and giueth health riches friends honours and dignities so long man florisheth his acquaintance are delighted and refreshed by him and all men behold him with admiration but when the heate of persecution hath scorched his glory or the frost of aduersitie hath pinched his wealth or the infirmity of sicknesse hath decayed his health thē he fadeth as a flower and many times he becommeth fewel for the fire of hell F. Ioan. a S. Gem. lib. 3. de vegetab et plan cap. 26 The vse and abuse of a thing PRometheus seeing a Satyre kisse the fire at the first sight of it admonished him that if he touched it it woulde burne him but if he vsed it as it should be vsed it was profitable both for the heat and light so the same thing as thou vsest it is either dangerous or profitable Plut. If many be made drunke with wine not therefore are the vines to be digged vp by the rootes as Lycurgus caused thē but rather more water is to bee vsed to allay the wine so if many abuse Poetry it is not forthwith to be banished but a caution is to bee vsed that it may bee wholsome Idem As in the nature of thinges those that are the most beautifull doe soonest wither decay as Roses Lilies Violets when as other last longer so in the life of man those thinges that are most florishing are verie quickly abused and diuerted into a contrarie vse Plinius lib. 9. cap. 15. The fish Polypus otherwise a stupide creature vseth great cunning intaking other fishes so many men are very wise for their owne lucre and gaine but in other things very blockish brute beasts Plin. lib. 9. cap. 29. As wines poured into vessels made of the tree Taxus become mortall and dead-in so wholsome erudition and instruction falling into a pestilent and bad nature becommeth hurtfull and dangerous Plin. lib. 16. cap. 11. As the salt sea water is vnwholesome to drinke but yet carieth a ship better then the fresh riuer which is wholesome for drinke so euery thing hath his vse if it bee vsed in the right kind As the Phylosopher that sent the tongues sent the best and the worste meate so riches are verie good if they be well vsed but starke nought if otherwise Plutarchus Wine doth comfort those that are in health and liue moderately as the scripture saith it maketh mery the hart of man but if he drinke it that hath a feuer it bringeth death and destruction vnto him so it commeth to passe that the same thing vsed diuersely doth bring life to one and death to another Origenes in libro Iudic. homilia quinta As the satiety of hony procureth vomit so good things being not wel vsed become hurtful Greg. Nazianzenus li. 1. de Theolo Riches ALthough it is necessary needful to eat for the reliefe sustentation of the body yet superfluity of meate doth very much hurt And although the life of man consisteth in the bloud yet too much abundance of bloud is the cause of death oftentimes killeth men so riches although they be necessary for the maintenance of life yet superfluity of temporall goods is no lesse hurtfull to the soule then too much meate to the body or too much bloud to the life Lod. Granat lib. de Deuotione A trauailer for his prouision in his voyage carieth his mony in gold for so is he richer and is troubled with lesse weight so the Lord doth lighten his children laying vpon them but easie burdens but yet sufficient and that which may content them ibidem As those kingdoms cities which the diuell shewed to our Sauiour Christ vpon the mountaine were not true riches but fantasticall and sightly in the eye euen so all the riches honours and glorie of this worlde are no perfect goods but fained dissembled as saint Iames saith a vapour that appeares a while and in a moment is dispersed As the full gorged Faulcon wil not know her maister and turne vnto him so the rich man that is pampered with prosperitie doth forget God and doth separate himselfe from him Euen as the children of Reuben and Gad desired Moses that he would leaue thē there in the country of Iordan where was good feeding for their cattell neuer caring to go to the land of promise in like maner there are many that refuse the kingdome of heauen promised them in perpetual possession for the loue of riches and corruptible goods they enioy in this false world Stella de contemptu mundi As in good and sauory meates poyson is often receiued and they that haue eaten thereof are forthwith ready for the graue so sweet are the riches of this world to such as loue them yet vnder them is death hidden because they make a man proud and vicious which bringeth him to eternall death Ibidem As the children of Israels Manna would haue corrupted and beene filled with vermine if it had bin saued so this worlds vaine riches are no way sooner lost then by too much sauing them ibidem As smoake mounted on high is quickly out of sight euen such is prosperity it beares a shewe for a while and at length comes to nothing ibidem As vpon the mountaine of Gilboa perished the noble and great men of Israel so doth prosperitie lead men vp as it were to a mountain and suddenly thence tumbles them headlong downe ibidem As the Gentiles vainely adored the Idoll Mercurie each of them carrying a stone in the honour of their Idoll euen so they that honour worldly prosperitie steale the honour which is due to God and bestow it on a base Idoll ibidem As a wise man is not hurt of a serpent because he keepes him farre from him but a foole taking him by the taile is bitten so riches being receiued of a wise man doe not hurt him because hee knowes how to vse them but if a foole lay holde on them they bite him because he gripes them too hard Clemens Alex. lib. 3. paedag cap. 6. As a land flood is soone vp and soone downe so
spices then do smell more fragrantly when they are either moued broken or powned so vertues fame is then largely dispersed when it is exercised in serious imployments and weightie affaires As Phisitians forbid to wash the teeth with the iuyce of the hearbe Alcakengy although it bee good to fasten them because the danger is greater then the commoditie for at length it will bring madnesse so those things are not to bee dealt in that hurt the name and encrease the wealth nor that learning to bee medled with which polisheth the tongue and infecteth the maners As fire in a darke night is a farre off discerned but in the Sun-shine is scarcelie seene so many a paultry rymer and bawdie ballad-maker seemes among base conceits of great esteeme but in the view of more glorious and splendent spirits they appeare none other then dunghill birdes and alefied Groutnowls Tyrius Platonicus sermone 24. An ill Name AS some by the deformities of their bodie haue got vnto them a surname as of crooked legges to bee called Vari of flabberkin lippes Chilones of great noses Nasones of redde noses Salamanders so manic by their mischieuous misdeedes doe purchase infamous and ill names as Nero for his beastlinesse to bee tearmed the Beast of Rome Tamberlane for his tyrannie The wrath of God and Attila for his crueltie The scourge of God c. As it grieueth a father to see his sonne deadly sicke or irrecuperably ouermatched in fight with his enemie so it grieueth any good nature to heare himselfe ill spoken of or to heare his wife daughters tearmed dishonest Iouianus Pontanus de fortitudine lib. 2. cap. 5. As manie Christians abstaine from much mischiefe least after this life hell shoulde bee their inheritance so Tiberius Caesar kept himselfe from many outrages and misdemeanors least after death an ill name should followe him Erasmus in Epistolà ante Suetonium Tranquillum Albeit thou powrest water vppon the hearbe Adyanton or drownest it in the water yet it continues drie so infamy slander or an ill name will not cleaue to a good man albeit one endeuour to defame him A Courtly life AS the Moone the neerer the Sunne it is the lesse light it hath so more fruit and dignitie is in them that are farre off from great Princes There is a certaine hearbe in India of an especiall sauour full of little serpents whose stinges are present death so the courts of certaine Princes hath that which delighteth but vnlesse thou be warie they harbour deadly poyson Antes doe gnaw that end of the corne which beginneth to sprout least it become vnprofitable vnto them so great men that they may alwayes keepe their seruants in seruice and slauerie do hold them vnder least looking vp after liberty they should forsake the Court through the tediousnes of seruitude As it is a very rare thing to see the birds called Halciones but when they appeare they either bring or portend faire weather so Bishops and Cleargie-men should seldome come to the Courts of Princes but either to preach maners or appease tumults There is a kinde of pulse called Cracca which Culuers take such delight in that hauing once tasted of it they cannot afterwards bee driuen from that place so they that haue once tasted of the hony and honour of the Court can neuer bee driuen from the Court Plin. lib. 16. cap. 16. A Mule ingendered of an Horse and an Asse is neither Horse nor Asse so some whilest they would be both Courtiers and Prelats are neither Strange it is that the sound eye viewing the sore should not be dimmed that hee that handleth pitch should not be defiled so is it strange that they that continue in the Court should not be infected Nylus breedeth the precious stone and the poysoned serpent and as in all ryuers there is some fish and some frogs and as in all gardens there bee some flowers some weedes and as in all trees there bee some blossoms some blasts so the Court may as well nourish vertuous Matrones as the lewd Minion Courtiers AS the starre Artophylax is brightest yet setteth soonest so Courtiers glories being most gorgeous are dasht with sudden ouerthrowes As the Camelion turneth himselfe into the likenesse of euerie obiect so Courtiers as Aristippus that fawnde vpon Dionysius ayme their conceits at their Kings humor if hee smile they are in their iolitie if frowne their plumes fall like Peacockes feathers The Indian Torteises in a calme do delight to floote aloft in the noone-Sun with all their back bare aboue water vntill their shelles hauing forgot themselues bee so parched with the heate of the Sunne that they cannot get vnder water and so they swimming aboue water become a prey vnto fishers so some allured with hope of great matters do thrust themselnes into the Courts of Princes and are so lulled a sleepe with the pleasures of the Court that they cannot forsake it when they woulde and betake themselues to their woonted rest Plin. lib. 9. cap. 10. As the hearbe Heliotropium is carried about with the Sunne and whither soeuer it moueth thither the hearbe turneth his head so Courtiers which way soeuer their king doth becke thither they bend Plin. 18. cap. 24. 27. eodem lib. The Crocodile sometimes liueth vpon the land and sometimes in the water shee layeth her egges vpon the land seeketh her prey in the water so some are both Courtiers and ecclesiasticall persons but in both places very pestilent fellowes Conradus Lycosthenes Rubeaquensis As the Adamant cannot draw iron if the Diamond lie by it so vice cannot allure the Courtier if vertue be retained Kings AS the Leopard by reason of his sweete sauour dooth allure wilde beasts vnto him and so doth destroy thē so the courts of princes I knowe not what inticing allurements they haue that drawe men into destruction Plinius libro 8. cap. 27. As the hearbe Heliotropium doth alwaies looke towards the sunne and when it is hid doth gather in the flower so many to the Kings becke bend their endeuors and to what thing soeuer they see him inclined to that they addresse themselues Plin. lib. 18. cap. 27. As the crocking of frogs beyonde their wont doeth prognosticate an imminent tempest so when the speech of euill men is of most force with Princes and good men are silenced then the confusion of their estate is at hand As the dogges of Malta are especially delighted in among the rich and delicate women of that I le so effeminate princes doe greatly sette by flatterers who both speak and do all things according to their humours Plin. lib. 3. cap. vltim◠That which oyle is vnto flies emmots and to other insect and entailed creatures that is flattery vnto foolish princes Those being annointed with oyle doe die these by flattery and assentation of clawbackes are drawne to destruction and they draw their common wealth into the same praedicament Plin. lib. 11. cap. 19. As a vine except thou prune it doeth largely extend it selfe
and Scaliger haue highly prized them so haue the eloquent Orators Pontanus and Muretus very gloriously estimated them As Georgius Buckananus Iephthe amōgst all moderne Tragedies is able to abide the touch of Aristotles precepts and Euripedes examples so is Bishop Watsons Absalon As Terence for his translations out of Apollodorus Menander and Aquilius for his translation out of Menander and C. Germanicus Augustus for his out of Aratus and Ausonius for his translated Epigrams out of Greeke and Doctor Iohnson for his Frogge-fight out of Homer and Watson for his Antigone out of Sophocles haue got good commendations so these versifiers for their learned translations are of good note among vs Phaer for Virgils Aencads Golding for Ouids Metamorphosis Harington for his Orlādo Furioso the translators of Senecaes Tragedies Barnabe Googe for Palingenius Turberuile for Ouids Epistles and Mantuan and Chapman for his inchoate Homer As the Latines haue these Emblematists Andreas Alciatus Reusnerus and Sambucus so we haue these Geffrey Whitney Andrew Willet and Thomas Combe As Nonnus Panapolyta writ the Gospell of saint Iohn in Greeke Hexameters so Ieruis Markham hath written Salomons Can ticles in English verse As C. Plinius writ the life of Pomponius Secūdus so yong Charles Fitz-Ieffrey that high touring Falcon hath most gloriously penned the honourable life and death of worthy sir Francis Drake As Hesiod writ learnedly of husbandry in Greeke so hath Tusser very wittily and experimentally written of it in English As Antipater Sidonius was famous for extemporall verse in Greeke and Ouid for his Quicquid conabar dicere versus erat so was our Tarleton of whome Doctour Case that learned physitian thus speaketh in the seuenth Booke seuenteenth chapter of his Politikes Aristoteles suum Theodoretum laudauit quendam peritum Tragoediarum actorem Cicero suum Roscium nos Angli Tarletonum in cuius voce vultu omnes iocosi affectus in cuius cerebroso capite lepidae facetiae habitant And so is now our wittie Wilson who for learning and extemporall witte in this facultie is without compare or compeere as to his great and eternall commendations he manifested in his chalenge at the Swanne on the Banke side As Achilles tortured the deade bodie of Hector and as Antonius and his wife fuluia tormented the liueleffe corps of Cicero so Gabriell Haruey hath shewed the same inhumanitie to Greene that lies full low in his graue As Eupolis of Athens vsed great libertie in taxing the vices of men so dooth Thomas Nash witnesse the broode of the Harueys As Actaeon was wooried of his owne hounds so is Tom Nash of his Ile of Dogs Dogges were the death of Euripedes but bee not disconsolate gallant young Iuuenall Linus the sonne of Apollo died the same death Yet God forbid that so braue a witte should so basely perish thine are but paper dogges neither is thy banishment like Ouids eternally to conuerse with the barbarous Getes Therefore comfort thy selfe sweete Tom. with Ciceros glorious return to Rome with the counsel Aeneas giues to his seabeaten soldiors lib. 1. Aeneid Pluck vp thine heart driue from thence both feare and care away To thinke on this may pleasure be perhaps another day Durato temet rebus seruato secundis As Anacreon died by the pot so George Peele by the pox As Archesilaus Prytanaeus perished by wine at a drunken feast as Hermippus testifieth in Diogenes so Robert Greene died of a surfet taken at Pickeld Herrings Rhenish wine as witnesseth Thomas Nash who was at the fatall banquet As Iodelle a French tragical poet beeing an Epicure and an Atheist made a pitifull end so our tragicall poet Marlow for his Epicurisme and Atheisme had a tragicall death you may read of this Marlow more at large in the Theatre of Gods iudgments in the 25. chapter entreating of Epicures and Atheists As the poet Lycophron was shot to death by a certain riual of his so Christopher Mar low was stabd to death by a bawdy Seruingman a riuall of his in his lewde loue Painters APelles painted a Mare and a Dogge so liuelie that Horses and Dogges passing by woulde neigh and barke at them hee grewe so famous for his excellent Art that great Alexander came often to his shoppe to visite him and commaunded that none other should paint him at his death hee left Venus vnfinished neither was anie euer founde that durst perfect what hee had begunne Zeuxis was so excellent in painting that it was easier for anie man to view his pictures then to imitate them who to make an excellent Table had fiue Agrigentine Virgins naked by him hee painted Grapes so liuelie that Birdes did flie to eate them Parrhasius painted a Sheete so artificiallie that Zeuxis tooke it for a Sheete in deede and commaunded it to bee taken away to see the picture that hee thought it had vayled as learned and skilfull Greece had these excellently renowned for their limning so Englande hath these Hiliard Isaac Oliuer and Iohn de Creetes very famous for their painting As Greece moreouer had these Painters Timantes Phidias Polignotus Paneus Bularchus Eumarus Cimon Cleonaeus Pythis Apollodorus Atheniensis Aristides The banus Nicophanes Perseus Antiphilus and Nicearchus so in Englande wee haue also these William and Francis Segar brethren Thomas and Iohn Bettes Lockey Lyne Peake Peter Cole Arnolde Marcus Iaques de Bray Cornelius Peter Golchis Hieronimo and Peter Vande Velde As Lysippus Praxiteles and Pyrgoteles were excellent engrauers so wee haue these engrauers Rogers Christoper Switser and Cure Musicke THe Loadstone draweth iron vnto it but the stone of Aethiopia called Theamedes driueth it away so there is a kinde of Musicke that dooth asswage and appease the effections and a kinde that doth kindle and prouoke the passions As there is no law that hath soueraintie ouer loue so there is no heart that hath rule ouer Musicke but Musicke subdues it As one day takes from vs the credite of another so one straine of Musicke extincts the pleasure of another As the heart ruleth ouer all the members so Musicke ouer commeth the heart As beautie is no beautie without vertue so Musicke is no Musicke without Art As all thinges loue their likes so the moste curious eare the delicatest Musicke As too much speaking hurts too much galling smarts so too much Musick gluts and distempereth As Plato and Aristotle are counted princes in philosophie and Logicke Hippocrates and Galen in phisick Ptolomie in Astrologie Euclide in Geometrie and Cicero in eloquence so Boëtius is esteemed a Prince and captaine in Musicke As Priests were famous among the Egyptians Magi among the Caldeans and Gymnosophistes among the Indians so Musitians flourished among the Grecians and therefore Epaminondas was accounted more vnlearned then Themistocles because he had no skill in Musicke As Mercurie by his eloquence reclaymed men from their barbarousnesse and crueltie so Orpheus by his Musick subdued fierce beasts and wild birds As Demosthenes Isocrates and Cicero excelled
verbis Isayae Vidi dominum As a Pilot seeing one starre can direct his course to any citie or prouince so the diuel being the prince of the aire doth not only see but also knowe all the principalities and dignities of the world and therefore he could point out to our Sauiour the honour and state of euerie kingdome Idem hom 5. operis imperfect Hell If we be so delicate and tender in this life that we cannot suffer patiently a feuer of 3. daies so much lesse shall we in the life to come bee able to suffer euerlasting fire Lud. Granat lib. 1. ducis peccat If we be terrified when we see any horrible punishmente inflicted vpon a malefactour in this life so much more shall we be tormented at the sight of the dreadfull and intollerable punishments in the other Ibidem As the wicked haue offended God with al their parts powers and sences and haue imployed them all as instruments to serue sin with euen so shall Gods diuine iustice ordaine that in all the selfe same parts powers and sences they shall suffer son owe and torment that so that may be fulfilled which is written Howe much he glorified himselfe and was in delicacies giue him so much torments and lamentations ibid. As it happened to Sisera who before he slept drunk of the sweete milk in Iaels bottle but she awaked him after another maner by nailing his head downe fast to the ground euen so do men sup vp the sweet milke of this worldes vanities till they are suddenly ouertaken with death eternall because they cannot awake from the drowsie sleepe wherin they are fast nailed downe by their owne negligent follies Stella de contemptu mundi As Egypt a figure of hell was full of darknes and a lande of captiuity so is hell Rupertus lib. 2. in Math. As in this world it is a kind of solace to haue others partakers of our miseries so in hell it shall be great vexatiō to the damned to see others tormēted as themselues Chrysost hom 48. de Ira. As entrance into the house of Dedalus was open but regresse was denied so the way into hell is very wide and open but the return from it is altogither impossible As Abeston a stone of Archadia being once sette on fire can neuer be exstinguished neither by rain nor tempest as saith Isidore so hell fire being once kindled can neuer be quenched As an old man said in the liues of the fathers when a nource woulde weane her childe she layeth some bitter thing vpon her dugge which when the childe feeleth he abhorreth it so oppose the bitternesse of Hell agaynst the delightes of the worlde and thou shalt bee withdrawne from them As the righteous shall reioyce in heauen by reason of their great ioy and blessednes so on the contrarie part sinners shall bee tormented with vnspeakeable tortures in hell Lodouicus Granat in suis septem Meditationibus Meditatione septima As beautie agilitie fortitude libertie health pleasure and eternitie is matter of reioycing vnto the righteous in heauen so the vglines of sinne the burthen of it imbecilitie seruitude infirmitie anxietie and euerlasting death shall with grieuous torments afflict sinners in hell Ibidem As the friends of God shall bee secure that they shall not loose their blessednes in heauen so the enemies of God shall loose all hope to bee deliuered from those torments which they liue in in hell ibidem As in this worlde we are all vnder one Sunne yet wee do not feele the heate of it all alike because one is more hot and another lesse hot so in hel in the fire there is not one maner of burning because here what the diuersitie of bodies doth for after one maner the fire doeth burne chaffe after another wood and after another iron that there doth the diuersitie of sins they haue the same fire and yet it dooth not burne them alike ibidem As the saints in heauen haue loue perfect charitie so the damned in hel do burne against all with spite and hatred ibidem As the saints in heauen do reioyce at anothers good so the damned in hell doe repine at it neither is there any thing found at which they more greeue then at the glorie of the saints and therfore they wish that all might be damned with them ibid. As God made heauen for good men so he made hell for wicked men FINIS A Table of the Common places into which these Similitudes are digested A ABdication pag. 160 Abstinence pag. 86 Abuse vse of a thing pag. 198. b Admonition pag. 148 Adoption pag. 160 Aduersitie vide Tribulation Adulterie pag. 308 b Affections pag. 133. b Affliction pag. 183 Age. pag. 153 b Almes deeds pag. 90 b Ambition pag. 313. b Ancetors vide nobility Angels pag. 21 b Anger pag. 31 b Antiquitie vide speech bookes Artes. pag. 57 b Assiduitie pag. 159. b Assiduitie taketh away admiration pag. 160 Atticke tongue vide speech Auditour and his duty pag. 255. b Authours vide bookes B. Banishment pag. 235 Barbarians vide anger Beautie pag. 149 b Benefits pag. 154 b Beneuolence pag. 155 b Bishops vide courtly life Bitternes vide mariage Bodies of little stature wiser then those that be vaster pag. 153 Bookes pag. 265 Reading of books pag. 266 b A choice is to be had in reading bookes pag. 267 b The vse of reading many Bookes pag. 268 b Braggers and boasters pag. 177 b Brethren pag. 147 Breuiloquence pag. 257 b Businesse pag. 156. C. Calamitie vide Tribulation Captaine pag. 227 Ceremonies pag. 162 b Charitie pag. 77 Chastitie pag. 109 Chance pag. 162 Chiding pag. 181 b Choice and tryall of a friend pag. 121 Choise pag. 175 Children pag. 63 Christ pag. 10 b Christians pag. 33 b Christian discretion vide zeale Church pag. 26 b Clergy vide courtly life Cockering pag. 64 Comaedians vide poets Cōmendation vide praise Commenders of themselues vide praysers of themselues Commoditie pag. 158 b Common-wealth pag. 226 Concord pag. 104 Cōcupiscēce vide luxury Conquest vide victorie Conscience pag. 55 b Continencie pag. 109 Contrarietie pag. 174 Conuersing and liuing to gither pag. 190 b Conuersation ibidem Contemplation pag. 245 Correction pag. 161 Counsell pag. 195. b Euill counsel is the worst vnto him that giueth it pag. 196 Rash counsell pag. 197 Courtly life pag. 215 Court ibid. Courtiers pag. 216 Couetousnes pag. 292 b Crosse vide tribulation Cunctation pag. 175 Custome pag. 188 D Death pag. 326 b Debt pag. 188 Decencie pag. 105 Defence ibid b Deuotion pag. 93 Dignity pag. 209 b Those things are difficult which are excellēt pag. 208 b Disciplines pag. 57 b Discord vide Concord matrimoniall Society Disputation pag. 257 b Deuill pag. 330 b Doctors Doctrine pag. 56 b Drunkennes pag. 307 E Education pag. 58 b Education of a Prince pag. 222 Eares vide Hearing Eloquence pag. 250 Eloquent men ibid. Eloquence threefold ibi Empire pag. 224 b Emperors vide Princes Emulation pag.